NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has locked out players three times during his tenure. / Brad Penner, US Presswire

by Mike Brehm and Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Brehm and Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports

The NHL, which went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 16 when the NHL and NHL Players' Association couldn't decide how to divide $3.3 billion in revenue, was settled on Jan. 6 after 113 days.

A daily look at what had and hadn't happened during the lockout:

DAY 113: JAN. 6

Did they talk? Yes, as part of the marathon session from the day before.

What was the big news? Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr got up on the stage together to announce a tentative deal. No details on the schedule, but it's a 10-year CBA, with a 50-50 split of revenue, a seven-year cap on contracts, a $64.3 million salary cap in 2013-14 and a pension plan for players. Teams can buy out two players to get under the cap next season, but the money will count against the players' share of revenue.

Anything else happen? The hockey world breathed a collective sigh of relief.

DAY 112: JAN. 5

Did they talk? Yes

What was the big news? Federal mediator Scot L. Beckenbaugh got the two sides back in the room and they began a session that would eventually lead to a tentative agreement. While that was going on, players completing their voting on giving the union authorization to dissolve itself. Though the vote was expected to be unanimously in favor again, the results were never announced.

Anything else happen? Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar hurt his knee while playing for Mora in the Swedish second division. It's expected to keep him out for two to three weeks.

DAY 111: JAN. 4

Did they talk? Not face-to-face

What was the big news? Federal mediator Scot L. Beckenbaugh spent 12 hours going back and forth between the NHL headquarters and NHLPA negotiators at a Manhattan hotel.

Anything else happen? There was enough apparent traction for the sides to continue the process the next day.

DAY 110: JAN. 3

Did they talk? Yes

What was the big news? Less than 12 hours after allowing their "disclaimer of interest" authorization to expire, the NHLPA opened another vote among players. This time, the vote would last 48 hours, through 6 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Anything else happen? Small groups met about pensions and hockey-related revenue. The players were concerned that the league had tried to change HRR during its most recent proposal, but the situation was rectified.

DAY 109: JAN. 2

Did they talk? Yes

What was the big news? The NHLPA's authorization to issue a "disclaimer of interest" passed without being used. If it had, players would have been free to sue the league under antitrust laws. Commissioner Gary Bettman said at the end of the season that "some progress" had been made.

Anything else happen? Both sides said a mediator had been brought back into the process.

DAY 108: JAN. 1

Did they talk? Yes

What was the big news? The NHL delivered a response during the evening to the union's counter-proposal. The players said they would have to look it over and hoped to resume talks on Wednesday. The sides discussed revenue-sharing and pensions during the afternoon, and pensions remain an issue.

Anything else happen? Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist said he was returning from Sweden.

DAY 107: DEC. 31

Did they talk? Yes

What was the big news? The union presented a counter-proposal to the league's 288-page offer.

Anything else happen? No details leaked out, a big change from previous times that either side made an offer. That would show that the sides likely are serious about getting this done.

DAY 106: DEC. 30

Did they talk? Yes

What was the big news? The NHLPA said it was working on a counterproposal to the league's offer.

Anything else happen? More informational sessions were held between the two sides.

DAY 105: DEC. 29

Did they talk? Yes

What was the big news? The NHLPA and NHL held informational conference calls to discuss the league's latest offer.

Anything else happen? No.

DAY 104: DEC. 28

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? Details emerged on the NHL's proposal. It moved toward from its previous position in three ways. The league offered a six-year cap on contracts, up from five. It increased year-to-year variance from 5% to 10%. It also said it would allow one compliance buyout per team as they dealt with the drop in the salary cap in Year 2 of the deal. But that would count against the players' share.

Anything else happen? No.

DAY 103: DEC. 27

Did they talk? Yes, but we didn't know at the time.

What was the big news? Again, it wasn't known until the next day but the league delivered a 288-page proposal to the players.

Anything else happen? No.

DAY 102: DEC. 26

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? New Jersey Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello expressed frustration to The (Newark) Star-Ledger that the lockout has gone on this long. "It's coming down to the wire right now," he said. "We've just got to trust the people that are involved. I'm embarrassed we are where we're at. That's the best expression I can use." Lamoriello, whose team was punished for offering a back-diving contract to Ilya Kovalchuk, has been part of collective bargaining talks during past lockouts, though not this time.

Anything else happen? Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who'd be playing in the NHL if not for the lockout, had a goal and four assists to lead Canada's 9-3 rout of Germany in the teams' opener at the world junior championships. Meanwhile, in the Spengler Cup, Buffalo Sabres captain Jason Pominville led Germany's Adler Mannheim past Team Canada 2-1 with an overtime goal.

DAY 101: DEC. 25

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? There wasn't any because of the holiday. But a year ago, the NBA opened play after settling its labor dispute.

DAY 100: DEC. 24

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? There wasn't any because of the holiday.

DAY 99: DEC. 23

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said he didn't expect any talks before the holidays.

Anything else happen? No.

DAY 98: DEC. 22

Did they talk? Yes, by phone.

What was the big news? The conversation between Bill Daly and Steve Fehr was the first since Dec. 18, though it didn't lead to a resumption of talks. Even though Donald Fehr said that the holidays wouldn't be an impediment to talks, it appears that nothing will happen until after Christmas.

Anything else happen? No.

DAY 97: DEC. 21

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? Union members finished voting on whether to authorize the executive board to authorize a disclaimer of interest, and it was overwhelmingly in favor. The NHLPA is expected to decide by Jan. 2 whether to be a trade association and free up players to file antitrust lawsuits. According to the Associated Press, the vote was 708-22.

What was the big news? The league canceled games through Jan. 14. That brought the total to 625, or 50.8% of the season. Though that would seem to set forth a soft drop-dead date for the season, deputy commissioner Bill Daly refused to characterize the announcement and said he would allow other to draw any conclusions.

Anything else happen? In a radio interview, Donald Fehr indicated he'd be willing to negotiate during the holidays. In an interview with QMI Agency, Daly said he didn't see why the remaining issues would lead to a cancellation of the season.

DAY 95: DEC. 19

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? Pressed by a radio interviewer into giving only a yes or no answer on whether there would be a season, Bill Daly said yes.

Anything else happen? Donald Fehr went on the radio earlier and said the disclaimer vote was not a labor tactic and that he was only trying to get a deal for the players, not trying to win a battle for all sports labor unions.

DAY 94: DEC. 18

Did they talk? There was a brief phone conversation between Bill Daly and Steve Fehr.

What was the big news? Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper weighed in on the lockout and called it a dangerous situation.

Anything else happen? No.

DAY 93: DEC. 17

Did they talk? No.

What was the big news? Detroit Red Wings player rep Danny Cleary predicted that the disclaimer vote would pass nearly unanimously and that he was concerned for the fate of the season.

Anything else happen? No.

DAY 92: DEC. 16

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? Voting got under way by NHLPA membership on whether the union executive board should file a disclaimer of interest, dissolving the union and paving the way for antitrust litigation. Voting will run through Friday and two-thirds must OK the move for the board to proceed.

Anything else happen? The NHL lawsuit aimed at heading off the union's move and to declare the lockout legal was assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer.

DAY 91: DEC. 15

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? It was a quiet day.

DAY 90: DEC. 14

Did they talk? They talked by phone.

What was the big news? The NHL responded to reports the union was taking steps toward declaring a disclaimer of interest by filing a lawsuit and unfair labor action charge. The disclaimer of interest would dissolve the union and allow players to pursue antitrust litigation. The NHL's lawsuit was filed in federal court in New York, which has been friendly to leagues in the past.

Did they talk? NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr and NHL counsel Bob Batterman met with a mediator in New Jersey.

What was the big news? No progress for the second day in a row.

Anything else happen? Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Florida Panthers prospect Jonathan Huberdeau, who would be playing in the NHL if not for the lockout, were named to Canada's world junior championships team.

DAY 88: DEC. 12

Did they talk? They met with a federal mediator in New Jersey.

What was the big news? The session was more of a feeling-out session, done in separate rooms, according to deputy commissioner Bill Daly. Neither side made a new proposal. No owners took part, but 13 players did.

Anything else happen? Another player came home from Europe as Dallas Stars center Jamie Benn left the German team Adler Mannheim.

DAY 87: DEC. 11

Did they talk? Just to set up a Wednesday meeting

What was the big news? The NHL agreed to the players' request to meet with a mediator again.

Anything else happen? No

DAY 86: DEC. 10

Did they talk? They're continuing to seek a meeting this week, likely a smaller group. Another question is whether mediators will return to the process.

What was the big news? The NHL lopped another 104 games off the schedule, bringing the season total to 526, plus the Winter Classic and All-Star weekend. That also will cost players their fifth and sixth paychecks of the season.

Anything else happen? Washington Capitals defenseman Roman Hamrlik, who suggested several weeks ago that union chief Donald Fehr should take the deal that was on the table at the time, told Josh Rimer that he wanted the best deal for players. He added that having been through three lockouts, he has earned the right to speak his mind. "Maybe I should have called Don on the phone and told him, but I'm not taking anything back," he said.

DAY 85: DEC. 9

Did they talk? They touched base.

What was the big news? They could talk again this week. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the sides hoped to resume negotiations, though nothing nothing had been set up yet.

Anything else happen? Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene announced that he was going to play for Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss league. He had been playing for Frolunda in Sweden. The Swiss league doesn't resume play until Dec. 18.

DAY 84: DEC. 8

Did they talk? Donald Fehr had there had been communication between the sides, but not much.

What was the big news? Fehr spoke at a meeting of the Canadian Auto Workers and afterward told reporters that he believed the two sides were close to an agreement before the league pulled the plug on talks.

Anything else happen? The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review published a fascinating article on Penguins owner Mario Lemieux's behind-the-scenes maneuvering to try to get a deal done.

DAY 83: DEC. 7

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? The NHL didn't cancel games. Its pattern in the past has been to cancel games on a Friday after a blowup in talks. As of now, games after Dec. 14 are still on the schedule. But time is running out to avoid the next round of cancellations.

Anything else happen? Deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Associated Press that he had run out of ideas on how to solve the lockout.

DAY 82: DEC. 6

Did they talk? The Fehr brothers and players presented a counter-proposal to Bill Daly and attorney Bob Batterman. The NHL officials took it back to the league offices, where it was rejected.

What was the big news? It was a roller-coaster day with Donald Fehr talking like there could be an agreement soon, then announcing it was shot down, followed by Gary Bettman criticizing Fehr for raising fans' hopes. The league's objection: Its offer to increase its make-whole contribution to $300 million was contingent on the union accepting a 10-year CBA and a cap on contract lengths. The union countered instead. The league it was pulling the offer.

Anything else happen? Bettman said he wouldn't accept anything less than a 48-game schedule. That's the same schedule played after the NHL's 1994-95 lockout. That one was settled on Jan. 11.

DAY 81: DEC. 5

Did they talk? The sides began at 2 p.m. and this time, they went until 1 a.m.

What was the big news? Even though there was unhappiness in the room, they kept talking. Players weren't happy about the league's suggested 10-year CBA length. But the sides were keeping at it.

Anything else happen? The board of governors met. Owners, who face a fine for commenting on labor talks, said very little or nothing afterward. Commissioner Gary Bettman read a short statement and walked away to prepare for the afternoon's round of talks.

DAY 80: DEC. 4

Did they talk? Eighteen players and six owners met off and on from 2 p.m. ET to around midnight.

What was the big news? There was optimism expressed afterward, for the first time in the lockout. There were new faces in the room, including Pittsburgh Penguins owner Ron Burkle, considered a moderate. After the meeting, Bill Daly and Steve Fehr addressed the news media together for the first time. And their brief statements were tinged with hoped. Quite a difference from previous talks throughout this lockout.

Anything else happen? They agreed to resume talks after the board of governors meetings. Gary Bettman is scheduled to address the media at 1 p.m.

DAY 79: DEC. 3

Did they talk? They worked on details of Tuesday's players-owners meeting.

What was the big news? A time (2 p.m. ET) was announced, but the participating players are still up in the air. The NHLPA is inviting players to New York and the players who will deal directly with owners will be determined earlier Tuesday at a union meeting. The league announced its six owners on Sunday.

Anything else happen? WBZ in Boston reported that an agreement could be reached Tuesday or Wednesday, but everyone quickly shot down the report.

DAY 78: DEC. 2

Did they talk? Yes, to set up the owners-players-only meeting.

What was the big news? That the meeting, pitched last Thursday, is finally taking shape. It's scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in New York, a day before the board of governors meeting. Hard-liner Jeremy Jacobs (Boston Bruins) will be there, as will fellow negotiating committee member Murray Edwards (Calgary Flames). But the other four are newcomers, including the Pittsburgh Penguins' Ron Burkle, who's considered a moderate.

Anything else happen? The players hadn't named their representatives yet. Expect that on Monday. Also to be decided: which staffers will be present. Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr won't be in the room.

DAY 77: DEC. 1

Did they talk? There was some conversation about the proposed owner-player-only meeting.

What was the big news? The union approved a $10,000 stipend for each player, according to TSN. The move occurred a day after players missed their fourth paycheck. The next paycheck is due on Dec. 15 and that one is still in play because the league has canceled games through the 14th.

Anything else happen? There was no news on a decision about the proposed meeting as of 9 p.m. ET.

DAY 76: NOV. 30

Did they talk? No.

What was the big news? Offered a chance for players to meet directly with owners, the NHLPA held a conference call with the negotiating committee and executive board about the mediation sessions and how to proceed going forward. There was no news to report out of the call.

Anything else happen? Players weighed in on the proposal to the news media and on Twitter. Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd told the Winnipeg Free Press that he thought it might be a good idea if all 30 owners were in the room. "If it's still the same guys from their end talking... if it's (Boston Bruins' owner) Jeremy Jacobs in there spewing his stuff, I don't think it's going to move this process forward," he said. Tweeted New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist: "Let's get some owners at the table with open minds that want to get this solved!!"

DAY 75: NOV. 29

Did they talk? They met with federal mediators for a second day but remained too entrenched for progress.

What was the big news? After mediation failed, Gary Bettman pitched a direct meeting between owners and players - without NHL or union officials in the room. If it happens - and that's a big if - it would be the second time there had been direct contact. After the league's Oct. 16 proposal, it opened a short window for owners to talk to players.

Anything else happen? The mediators said they'd be willing to jump in again and help if need be.

DAY 74: NOV. 28

Did they talk? They met with federal mediators.

What was the big news? The meeting and the fact that what was said inside stayed inside. That's typical of the mediation process. The location was kept quiet and the only inkling of what happened was a statement for NHLPA leader Donald Fehr that a small group of union staffers and players met with "two experienced" mediators.

Anything else happen? Forbes released its annual valuation of NHL franchises and despite the league being in the throes of the lockout, the magazine said the Toronto Maple Leafs were worth $1 billion. That's the first time that an NHL franchise hit that mark.

DAY 73: NOV. 27

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? Minnesota Wild employees received incentive to root for the skills of owner Craig Leipold as a negotiator. They were told that they would be cut to four-day workweeks next month and have their pay cut 20% if an agreement wasn't reached.

Anything else happen? The NHL came closer to ridding itself of another problem when the Glendale (Ariz.) City Council approved an arena management deal with Greg Jamison. That was an important step in his bid to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes from the league, which has owned the team for three years.

DAY 72: NOV. 26

Did they talk? The sides agreed to federal mediation.

What was the big news? The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service assigned three mediators to help the owners and players through their dispute. It doesn't mean that it will lead to a settlement. NBA use of mediation didn't work out well. One of the mediators was promptly pulled because of issues with his Twitter account. FMCS commissioner Guy Serota said his account had been hacked.

Anything else happen? Detroit Red Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi, before the mediation announcement, said he could see the season being canceled. He thought it would take a long time for revenue to bounce back.

DAY 71: NOV. 25

Did they talk? Briefly

What was the big news? Organizers of the Atlantic City charity game said they were thinking of holding a sequel in New York.

Anything else happen? No.

DAY 70: NOV. 24

What was the big news? Locked-out players suited up for a sold-out charity game in Atlantic City to benefit victims of Superstorm Sandy. Before the game, union leader Donald Fehr briefed players on labor talks and also held a news conference. Asked about the hot-button topic of decertication, he said (according to The Washington Times): "There are two sets of laws that govern these situations and what happens is that, from time to time, unions and sports unions have essentially said that there are circumstances in which members would be better off without a union and taking action under the antitrust laws. And that's all I can say about it. You can check what's happened in the other sports."

Anything else happen? Chicago Blackhawks forward Dave Bolland apologized for complying when a fan asked for a retweet about wanting Gary Bettman dead. "I like to retweet for a lot of my fans and I just retweeted the wrong thing," he told TSN. "I feel bad about it."

DAY 69: NOV. 23

Did they talk? They chatted for 10 minutes, but it didn't lead to any new talks.

What was the big news? Another 96 games were canceled, plus the All-Star Game. The schedule is blank until Dec. 15.

Anything else happen? Shortly before the cancellation announcement, Bill Daly and Steve Fehr went on Fan 590 in Toronto and separately answered questions about the lockout. The buzzword of the week - decertification - was brought up and Fehr indicated anything was possible. Daly's response: "I wouldn't view an antitrust lawsuit in this case to be anything other than an unfortunate development because I think it's a time-consuming process that would likely lead to the end of the season."

DAY 68: NOV. 22

Did they talk? No, they're expected to touch base on Friday to figure out the next step. Based on past action, the league might cancel more games on Friday.

What was the big news? Washington Capitals defenseman Roman Hamrlik expounded on his remarks to a Czech newspaper in which he called for union leader Donald Fehr to push for a deal now because the league's offer won't get any better. "I still want to play with the Capitals or at least have the chance to win and go as far as I can," he told TSN. "I think time is against us and we need to find a solution. I think that it's a fight between two groups that have too much pride. We need to find an agreement - I still support Fehr, but we as players we need to push him a little bit more and get the best deal possible."

Anything else happen? Hamrlik got support from a fellow Capital and Czech player. "I agree 100 percent with Hammer," goalie Michal Neuvirth told TVA Nova Sport in the Czech Republic. "This lockout is not about majority of players, I think. It is about several superstars with big contracts." But before you think, there's a split among players, there's plenty of support for Fehr.

DAY 67: NOV. 21

Did they talk? Yes, the union presented a proposal in the morning and the sides discussed it in the afternoon.

What was the big news?The union accepted an immediate drop to a 50-50 split in revenue but with some caveats. It wanted the league's make-whole proposal increased by $182 million to $393 million to cover existing salaries hurt by the drop in players' share. It also built in some protection against lockout damage, proposing that the cap could never drop below $67.25 million and in years two through five, the players' dollar share could not drop below the previous year's figure. After meeting with the league, union chief Donald Fehr said there was "no reciprocity" from the league on the big issues. Owners wanted to keep the make whole fund at $211 million and Gary Bettman argued that the union's actions of delaying the start of talks made it culpable, too, for the lockout.

Anything else happen? A retired player slammed Bettman and a current one criticized Fehr. Jeff O'Neill purportedly tweeted that he wanted to "make whole" in Bettman's head. He later deleted the tweet and said that his account had been hacked. Washington Capitals defenseman Roman Hamrlik, in a Czech interview, said he was disgusted by the fact that the players had lost a quarter of a season and $425 million. "Time is against us," he said, according to Google translate. "I do not believe that if we wait any longer, we will achieve a better agreement."

DAY 66: NOV. 20

Did they talk? Just to set the time for Wednesday's talks.

What was the big news? Players and union officials huddled in New York to come up with a presentation for the league.

Anything else happen? Philadelphia Flyers star Claude Giroux left his German team so he could see the Atlanta specialist who treated Sidney Crosby's concussion/neck issues. Agent Pat Brisson said that Giroux, who absorbed a high hit, had a minor neck injury and the visit was just a precaution.

DAY 65: NOV. 19

Did they talk? Yes, during the evening

What was the big news? The union tried to discuss contracting rules and the league asked players to come up with an economic proposal to see how far apart the two sides were. The union said it would comply.

Anything else happen? Another Bettman slam. During a radio interview with TSN 1050, Florida Panthers forward Kris Versteeg referred to Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly as cancers that needed to be removed.

DAY 64: NOV. 18

Did they talk? No, but they will on Monday.

What was the big news? Really wasn't any. Just getting ready for the talks. "I don't know what they have on the agenda," deputy commissioner Bill Daly said.

Anything else happen? No, quiet day.

DAY 63: NOV. 17

Did they talk? Yes, to set up talks.

What was the big news? The two sides will meet again on Monday in New York. The union requested the meeting.

Anything else happen? The Philadelphia Daily News reported that Flyers owner Ed Snider could be souring on the lockout, but he put out a statement calling the report "absolutely erroneous" and saying he was squarely behind Commissioner Gary Bettman.

DAY 62: NOV. 16

Did they talk? Bill Daly and Steve Fehr talked on the phone.

What was the big news? Players weren't happy with the suggestion of a two-week break in talks. The harshest came from Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ian White, who called Commissioner Gary Bettman an idiot.

Anything else happen? Brad Richards and fellow New York Rangers players raised more than $10,000 for relief efforts on Staten Island after superstorm Sandy.

DAY 61: NOV. 15

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? News leaked that the league had suggested that the sides take a two-week break in talks. It was merely a suggestion from Commissioner Gary Bettman after the union leadership suggested they weren't sure what the next step was to break the impasse.

Anything else happen? Players missed their third paycheck.

DAY 60: NOV. 14

Did they talk? No.

What was the big news? That communication again is in a holding pattern, even though we're getting closer to the date needed to reach a deal in order to guarantee a Dec. 1 start. The Sports Business Journal's Chris Botta reported that more games could be canceled in seven days if a deal isn't reached.

Anything else happen? Lots of news in Europe. Paul Stastny is heading to Germany and Cam Fowler to Sweden. Wayne Simmonds and Chris Stewart left a Czech team. More details emerged on injuries to Valtteri Filppula and Alec Martinez.

DAY 59: NOV. 13

Did they talk? There was some communication but nothing formal was scheduled.

What was the big news? Retired star Mark Recchi, who is now part owner of a junior hockey team in Kamloops, British Columbia, weighed in on the lockout to the Boston Globe. "My advice," Recchi said, "is that the longer it goes, the worse (the offer) is going to get (for the players)."

Anything else happen? Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby once again expressed frustration with the lack of progress in talks. "I don't think there's much negotiating going on. I think as far as the proposals are concerned it's just kind of at a standstill right now," Crosby told reporters after skating in Pittsburgh. "Nobody's moving a whole lot on their side and I think that we've made steps to show that we're willing to negotiate. I don't think that's really happening on the other side."

DAY 58: NOV. 12

Did they talk? They didn't out of deference to the Hall of Fame inductions. Though the NHL's Bill Daly and NHLPA's Steve Fehr were both in Toronto, Daly said in an email, "I didn't see Steve. No meetings planned."

What was the big news? During a sports symposium, Fehr said that if the two sides can achieve a breakthrough on the big issues, the rest of the deal should fall together very quickly. Of course, reaching that breakthrough is the problem, with contract rules now also dividing the two sides.

Anything else happen? Four very deserving players - Pavel Bure, Adam Oates, Joe Sakic and Mats Sundin - were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Commissioner Gary Bettman spoke briefly during the induction ceremony and made reference to the lockout. "Even in difficult times, we find ourselves reassured to be here to recognize ultimate achievements on the ice. All of us, fans, teams and players, look forward to the time the game returns there."

DAY 57: NOV. 11

Did they talk? Yes, briefly.

What was the big news? A session on contract rights ended quickly with no progress. There has been a lot of that recently, despite six days of talks. The union said the league wouldn't budge and the league said it had already moved on 14 of 17 issues that concerned the players, but there was no further progress on Sunday. Both sides said they weren't sure where to go from here.

Anything else happen? Though neither side indicated when they would talk again, it would make sense to move talks to Toronto this week. The NHLPA's headquarters are there and league officials will be in town for the Hockey Hall of Fame inductions on Monday.

DAY 56: NOV. 10

Did they talk? Yes, the NHL's Bill Daly and union's Steve Fehr met for lunch.

What was the big news? After things seemed like they were blowing up on Friday, the sides kept the lines of communication open.

Anything else happen? After the NHL was criticized by players for suggesting that Donald Fehr wasn't keeping them fully informed about the league's offer, players took a few shots at the opposite side. Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin tweeted: "Hahaha Whata clowns!!!....Don tell it all. Bla blah ...make a deal instead of talk about Don!"

New Jersey Devils tough guy Krys Barch, famed for his Twitter rant earlier in the lockout, was at it again on Saturday.

"Good way to get Canadians interested in NHL again after hockey would be to let Gary Bettman be relieved of his position? Just an idea! Love FREEDOM of speech!"

DAY 55: NOV. 9

Did they talk? Yes. An early session was on pensions. But the late afternoon one on the make-whole proposal lasted only two hours.

What was the big news? For all the quiet of the first three days, there were leaks galore on Friday. First was Donald Fehr's memo to players in which he said there was a significant gap between the sides. Later, both the league and the union version of the make-whole proposal came out.

Anything else happen? Sources were quoted by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune as suggesting that Fehr wasn't sharing details of the league's offer to union membership. That prompted reporters, players and agents to tweet support for Fehr.

DAY 54: NOV. 8

Did they talk? Yes

What was the big news? News broke during the day that the union had made two proposals on Wednesday night. The NHL gave its response and neither side stormed out. Instead, they'll talk on Friday. As NHLPA executive director Don Fehr pointed out, it's always better to talk than not to talk.

Anything else happen? The "undisclosed location" of talks was disclosed by enterprising reporters. It was the law offices of Proskauer Rose, where Commissioner Gary Bettman once worked.

DAY 53: NOV. 7

Did they talk? Yes

What was the big news? They met for approximately six hours, with the topics revenue sharing among teams and honoring existing contracts. NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr said the union was looking forward to resuming talks on Thursday.

Anything else happen? The pool of player negotiators shrank some as a few players, including Sidney Crosby, left New York to avoid the nor'easter that later hit the city.

DAY 52: NOV. 6

Did they talk? Yes.

What was the big news? That they talked for seven hours, plan to talk again Wednesday and kept both the location and the details of the talks quiet. That's not necessarily a sign of progress, but it's an indicator that they're treating the situation with more urgency.

Anything else happen? Thirteen players showed up in New York to be available for talks, including Sidney Crosby.

DAY 51: NOV. 5

Did they talk? They will talk in New York on Tuesday afternoon.

What was the big news? There are few details about the talks, only that it will be a formal session. Generally, little news is good news in negotiations.

Anything else happen? Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson was taking a cautious approach to the talks, he told the Canadian Press before a charity game. "I just feel that where we are at this stage that there's still just a feeling-out process," said Alfredsson. "There hasn't really been anything going on and until we get something substantial to work on, I'm not too optimistic. I'm hoping this is going to happen now, but I'm not putting any hopes into it."

DAY 50: NOV. 4

Did they talk? They talked early in the morning, a continuation of Saturday's marathon session.

What was the big news? They will follow up with talks this week, likely Tuesday in New York.

Anything else happen? Both sides put out cordial statements Sunday morning. Considering the recent cancellation of November games and the Winter Classic, that's an encouraging sign.

DAY 49: NOV. 3

Did they talk? Bill Daly and Steve Fehr met in an undisclosed location.

What was the big news? That they were talking late into the night and there was secrecy surrounding the talks. That's a big change from the relatively quick meetings, followed by news conferences, that we've seen throughout these negotiations.

Anything else happen? It was pretty quiet otherwise.

DAY 48: NOV. 2

Did they talk? They'll talk Saturday in an undisclosed location.

What was the big news? The Winter Classic was canceled and along with it, the outdoor games at Comerica Park. The reason: The league "ran out of time" for putting together such a major event. But Michigan Stadium will host the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs during the next Winter Classic, whenever that will be. Needless to say, people who bought tickets were angry.

Anything else happen? TSN reported that the league might be willing to absorb part of the "make whole" provision to pay back what players lose early on with an immediate drop from a 57% share of revenue to a 50-50 split.

DAY 47: NOV. 1

Did they talk? They touched base again, but no talks are scheduled.

What was the big news? Deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Ottawa Citizen that the league would have a talk with Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk over his comments on a radio. Under league bylaws, only Commissioner Gary Bettman and Daly can comment from the league side about the lockout. During the interview, Melnyk said, "I'm extremely disappointed, like any fan, of where we are. We should be playing hockey by now. Everybody knows it, and we're not. Everybody can finger point all they want, but at the end of the day, I don't think anybody cares who's at fault. All they know if we're not playing hockey, why aren't we playing hockey?"

Anything else happen? Taylor Hall joined locked-out Edmonton Oilers teammates Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on the American Hockey League's Oklahoma City Barons. But that news was tempered by the announcement that Barons defenseman Brandon Davidson has testicular cancer.

DAY 46: OCT. 31

Did they talk? Bill Daly and Steve Fehr talked by phone, but no talks are scheduled.

What was the big news? Players missed their second paycheck and this was a full one (the first was for four days). But they got their escrow refund checks. That was worth 7.98% of last year's pay, plus interest. A full check is worth 7.7% of this year's pay, so most players came out a little ahead on their weekly cash flow.

Anything else happen? In a lockout casualty that didn't involve billionaires or millionaires, Phoenix Coyotes media relations manager Tim Bulmer said he would be losing his job on Nov. 5 because of "current circumstances."

DAY 45: OCT. 30

Did they talk? The No. 2 officials touched base, but no talks have been scheduled. The NHL's New York offices remained closed because of Sandy.

What was the big news? The Detroit Free Press reported that if the Winter Classic was canceled, the outdoor downtown events would not be held at Detroit's Comerica Park as planned. The reason: The NHL agreed to build the downtown rink in exchange for the Detroit Red Wings holding the Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium. NBC didn't specifically address the potential loss of the Classic, but said in a statement, "It's unfortunate that the lockout is causing the cancellation of games from our schedule. ... In the interim, we have a large amount of quality live-event programming, including soccer, boxing, college hockey and college basketball, that will air in place of NHL games. We look forward to presenting the NHL to its fans as soon as the labor situation is resolved."

Anything else happen? Toronto Maple Leafs All-Star Joffrey Lupul signed to play with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg of the KHL. He needed a waiver because he didn't meet the league's criteria for foreign players on Russia-based teams. The last-place team could use his offensive touch. It has scored 42 goals in 21 games.

DAY 44: OCT. 29

What was the big news? The Winter Classic has been considered on life support since Friday's wave of cancellations was announced. Now, a potential date for the loss of the outdoor game has cropped up. A person with knowledge of the league's plans said an announcement scrapping that game could come Thursday or Friday. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because a decision wasn't ready to be announced. The Jan. 1 game at Michigan Stadium was expected to set a hockey attendance record. But the NHL's contract with the University of Michigan calls for a second downpayment of $250,000 on Friday. Also, if the game is canceled beyond Friday, the NHL will be responsible for reimbursing Michigan for all reasonable expenses incurred by the university.

Anything else happen? NHL offices in New York were closed because of the approaching superstorm Sandy.

DAY 43: OCT 28

What was the big news? Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter backtracked on criticism of his owner (see below). Sunday, he told The (Minneapolis) Star-Tribune, "I thought a lot about since what I said, I don't question Craig Leipold and Minnesota with regards to negotiating our contracts in good faith. I don't question that. That might have came off wrong. I don't question that. It's just frustrating. We just want to play."

Anything else happen? Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson took on owners on his website. Example: "I have a duty to my team, the organization that has given me this opportunity, and the fans in the stands to give them my best at all times. The concept that the owners are trying to dismantle existing contracts that they in good faith offered, signed, and committed to is appalling, unprofessional, and disgraceful."

DAY 42: OCT. 27

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter was critical of his new boss, owner Craig Leipold, who signed him to a 13-year, $98 million contract and is now on the league negotiating committee. "If you can't afford to (sign contracts) then you shouldn't do it," Suter told ESPN The Magazine. "(Leipold) signed us to contracts. At the time he said everything was fine. Yeah, it's disappointing. A couple months before, everything is fine, and now they want to take money out of our contracts that we already signed."

Anything else happen? It was a quiet Saturday.

DAY 41: OCT. 26

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? The NHL wiped out the November schedule. Teams will now miss between 20 and 24 games. The Winter Classic and All-Star Game are still alive - for the moment.

Anything else happen? It went hand in hand with the other announcement, but the NHL's 50-50 offer is off the table. No word on what happens next.

DAY 40: OCT. 2

Did they talk? No.

What was the big news? Gary Bettman's deadline for allowing a full 82-game season passed quietly. Expect another round of canceled games soon.

Anything else happen? ESPN.com reported that the league planned to pull its offer of a 50-50 split because it was based on having a full schedule. The offer already had been rejected by the union, whose three proposals for a slower drop to 50-50 were also rejected last week.

DAY 39: OCT. 24

Did they talk? No.

What was the big news? Commissioner Gary Bettman said chances aren't looking good for a full season. He had set a Thursday deadline to allow for a Nov. 2 start and all 82 games. But Bettman blocked a resumption of talks because he said the union didn't want to discuss the league's latest offer or come up with another proposal. NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr weighed in hours later: "We are and continue to be ready to meet to discuss how to resolve our remaining differences, with no preconditions. For whatever reason, the owners are not. At the same time they are refusing to meet, they are winding the clock down to yet another artificial deadline they created."

Anything else happen? There was an actual hockey transaction as John Davidson was named president of hockey operations for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He had turned around the St. Louis Blues and promised to rebuild the last-place Jackets one brick at a time. When he gets to start doing the masonry work is anyone's guess.

DAY 38: OCT. 23

Did they talk? The NHLPA offered to meet with the league on Wednesday, but NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly doesn't see it happening because there was no agenda for the meeting.

What was the big news? The news happened last week, but word of it leaked out on Tuesday. The NHL had given its teams permission to talk to players about the league's offer from Wednesday to Friday last week. A memo spelled out the do's and dont's of the conversations, including sample questions and suggested answers. No word if anyone actually talked.

What was the big news? Nashville Predators forward Sergei Kostitsyn was quoted as saying he wouldn't mind if the lockout lasted longer, telling Russia's Sports-Express: "Let's put it this way â?? it would be better (for the players) if the lockout continues." It kind of fit in with earlier speculation from other Kontinental Hockey League players about whether that league's players would come back to the NHL when the lockout ended.

Anything else happen? The European exodus has slowed to a trickle, but two big names went: Mikko Koivo to Finland's TPS Turku and Winnipeg Jets defenseman Tobias Enstrom to Austria's Salzburg.

DAY 36: OCT. 21

Did they talk? They talked by phone as the league answered some union question.

What was the big news? It was a quiet day. The Thursday deadline that the NHL says is needed to guarantee a full season is quickly approaching.

DAY 35: OCT. 20

Did they talk? The No. 2 people on each side talked. But no formal talks are planned.

What was the big news? NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr's reaction to the NHL's rejection of the union proposal came out in a letter to players and and an interview. In the letter, which spelled out details of the three counterproposals, Fehr said he was told by the league that the NHL's last proposal was essentially a "take it or leave it" proposition, with a few tweaks allowed. In the interview with QMI Agency, Fehr said of the league's quick rejections: "It's just another indication that this is going to be fairly long road."

Anything else happen? Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, who has been outspoken about the lockout while playing in Russia, was at it again. According to TSN, he said, "The NHL gave fans and media hope. But in reality, it is a deception.The league is trying to show that it is working to try and save the season, but they are not offering anything new. It's all the same. Owners and players are at war. (Commissioner Gary) Bettman is under heavy pressure and trying to protect himself from criticism. Yes, he made an offer and said it was good. But good for who, for Bettman?"

DAY 34: OCT. 19

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? The NHL canceled games through Nov. 1. For those keeping count, that's an additional 53 regular-season games and 135 total. But there were several interesting things about the choice of that date. 1. It will cost players another payday. About 11.5% of their pay would be affected now. That's more than they'd be getting back in their escrow refund check. Plus, it's slightly less than the 12.3% that the union estimates players would lose if they take an immediate drop from 57% of revenue to 50%. That puts a little pressure on players to avoid the next swath of canceled games. 2. The Nov. 1 date falls before the NHL's suggested Nov. 2 date for salvaging a full season and leaves that as a possibility, even though it's slight, given the level of rhetoric still going on. The NHL said the sides would have to have a deal in place by Oct. 25 for that to work.

Anything else happen? The players learned they would be getting back 7.98% of last year's salary in their annual escrow check.

DAY 33: OCT. 18

Did they talk? The NHLPA presented three counterproposals to the league.

What was the big news? The league quickly rejected all three and its negotiating committee returned to New York. Before leaving, Commissioner Gary Bettman declared himself "disappointed" that the players didn't negotiate off the league's Tuesday's proposal, which had an immediate drop from 57% to 50%.

Anything else happen? Players took to Twitter to laud the union's third proposal and criticize the league for not accepting it. An example by San Jose's Logan Couture: "For people hating on the players saying take 50/50 it's fair..we offered that, as long as current contracts are honored. Fair. Gary says no." After a while, deputy commissioner Bill Daly put out a statement saying the league ran the numbers and said the players' share would be 56% to 57% in the first year and possibly never reach 50%.

DAY 32: OCT. 17

Did they talk? They'll talk Thursday and the NHLPA is working on a counter-proposal to Tuesday's NHL offer.

What was the big news? The NHL surprisingly put its offer to the union on its website. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says he doesn't negotiate in public, but there it was - both highlights and details. Meanwhile, NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr's letter to players leaked out. In it, he pointed that players would still be giving up "enormous" concessions.

Anything else happen? An NHL owner suffered a setback when the Edmonton city council said it was walking away from a deal to build an arena for the Oilers. It blamed owner Daryl Katz, citing his demands for millions in additional taxpayer money. "It's wrong to hold us up for ransom," Mayor Stephen Mandel said, according to the Canadian Press. Katz, who had talked to Seattle officials earlier, released a statement the following day: "We are concerned about the implications of the motion passed yesterday by City Council. We do not yet have a view on what comes next, but we remain hopeful that there is a solution that achieves the mutual goal of securing the Oilers' long-term sustainability in Edmonton."

DAY 31: OCT. 16

Did they talk? Yes, the NHL came to Toronto with a proposal.

What was the big news? The proposal. Amid all the gloom and doom about potential further cancellations, the NHL provided a proposal that included the 50-50 revenue split that everyone thought would be the eventual solution. It's not a walk down from 57% that players want, but the league has made accommodations to mitigate the impact during the first two years of the deal. The NHL also laid out the possibility of a full season starting on Nov. 2. To do that, an agreement needs to be reached by Oct. 25. Does that put pressure on the players? Yes. In fact, it puts pressure on both sides to find a whole lot of compromises and get a deal done. As we all know, negotiations get truly serious when the sides' backs are against the wall.

Anything else happen? The proposal was the dominant news of the day.

DAY 30: OCT. 15

Did they talk? Yes, to say that talks will resume at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Toronto. The talks are informal, meaning there's no set agenda and no word on whether it will address the core economics.

What was the big news? Players missed their first paycheck. The financial hit won't be huge because it was just for four days and an escrow refund equaling 8% of their 2011-12 pay is coming. That, for the most part, will cover the lost pay from the two weeks of canceled games. The next paycheck is due on Oct. 30, beyond the current range of canceled games, but more games could go by the wayside if progress isn't made this week.

Anything else happen? Deadspin.com reported that the NHL has hired Luntz Global to help it shape the public debate over the lockout. Founder Frank Luntz is a Republican strategist whose firm's slogan is "it's not what you say, it's what they hear." The initial reaction to that news was negative and Luntz took to Twitter to state his case, saying his research was similar to what he has done for other teams, leagues and player unions.

DAY 29: OCT. 14

Did they talk? No, they'll talk Monday to set up the location and agenda for Tuesday's resumption of talks.

What was the big news? There was no news to speak of. Expect that to change on Monday.

DAY 28: OCT. 13

Did they talk? Yes, they touched base to set up talks for Tuesday. The location and the agenda will be determined on Monday.

What was the big news? That they're talking again. Frustration seemed to be setting in after last week's talks. Even though they're not discussing the major issues yet, they're ahead of the 2004-05 lockout when the sides didn't meet again until December.

What was the big news? NHL players assigned to the American Hockey League affiliates of the New Jersey Devils and Columbus Blue Jackets were told to find housing for the entire season, the Toronto Globe and Mail reported. One more sign that the lockout will be a long one.

Anything else happen? Philadelphia Flyers teammates Claude Giroux and Daniel Briere made their debuts with the Eisbaren Berlin. Giroux had a goal and two assists and Briere had three assists.

DAY 26: OCT. 11

Did they talk? Yes, the topics were drug testing, free agency, etc. There was no discussions about the major economic issues and both sides think it's up to the other to come up with a new proposal. There was no immediate plans for talks on Friday.

What was the big news? That they were talking instead of dropping the puck on the opening night of the season. The NHL already has canceled the first 82 games. Thursday night, a four-game slate officially didn't happen.

Anything else happen? Sidney Crosby told Pittsburgh-area reporters that he's optimistic the season can be salvaged.

DAY 25: OCT. 10

Did they talk? Yes, for about five hours on the smaller issues.

What was the big news? The Alberta Labor Relations Board rejected players' attempt to overturn the lockout in the province. The board indicated that the league might have skirted some rules but the players knew that there would be a lockout if a deal hadn't been reached by Sept. 15. The ALRB also said that granting special status for players on the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers wouldn't end the lockout and would create problems in collective bargaining. Naturally, the NHL was pleased and the union disappointed.

Anything else happen? No, it was an uneventful day. That extends to the talks and to the arenas that should be opening on Thursday night.

DAY 24: OCT. 9

Did they talk? They'll talk Wednesday and it's supposed to be about the smaller issues again. But the top two executives from each side are scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. Wednesday before the bigger group, so it's possible they could deal with the more divisive issues.

What was the big news? If you were looking for news that could indicate this will be a long lockout, you didn't need to look far. Union chief Donald Fehr discussed the state of the salary cap in an interview with the Toronto Star. He said players could live with the cap if a deal was reached quickly. But "if this goes on for an extended period of time, I don't know what they (the players) are going to do. But I think it's safe to say, they would be exploring all options," he said. Meanwhile, the Detroit Free Press reported that no plans were in the works for league officials to make a follow-up logistical scouting visit to Michigan Stadium, site of the Winter Classic.

Anything else happen? Rick Nash returned from his shoulder injury and had a goal and an assist for Davos (Switzerland). Patrice Bergeron made his Swiss league debut with Lugano and had two goals and two assists. Logan Couture had the same output for Geneva-Servette.

DAY 23: OCT. 8

Did they talk? They set the agenda for the scheduled resumption of talks on Wednesday and Thursday in New York.

What was the big news? That "major economic issues" aren't on the agenda during this week's talks, according to deputy commissioner Bill Daly. That, of course, could always change, but it's essential that the sides figure out the key issue of how to divide up revenues in order to bring about an end to the lockout.

Anything else happen? Detroit Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg said he was going to Switzerland, and in a battle of locked-out Russian stars, Ilya Kovalchuk had a hat trick as SKA St. Petersburg won 4-2 against CSKA Moscow and Pavel Datsyuk (one goal, one assist).

DAY 22: OCT. 7

Did they talk? They're still firming up details on a resumption of talks, possibly Wednesday and Thursday in New York. An agenda for those meetings could be ironed out on Monday.

What was the big news? Injuries happen all the time in the NHL, so, of course, they'd happen in Europe, too. The latest was Philadelphia Flyers winger Jakub Voracek, who, according to the website of the Kontinental Hockey League team Lev Praha, will miss four weeks with a knee injury. He had recently signed a four-year, $17 million extension and the Flyers were going to look at him as a replacement for Jaromir Jagr on the top line with Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell. The Flyers could benefit if the lockout stretches on for a bit. Lev Praha lost Calgary Flames forward Jiri Hudler (abdomen) to an injury this fall. Also hurt in Europe during the lockout: New York Rangers winger Rick Nash (shoulder) and St. Louis Blues defenseman Kris Russell (knee).

Anything else happen? Chris Kreider had a preseason hat trick for the Connecticut Whale. Based on his playoff performance last spring after leaving Boston College, he would have been starting the New York Rangers, but they assigned him to the American Hockey League because of the lockout.

DAY 21: OCT. 6

Did they talk? Not in person. They're expected to touch base by phone this weekend.

What was the big news? Anytime Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov opens his mouth, it's usually interesting. But this comment was not about bears or white tigers. Instead, according to TSN, he indicated that some Russians could stay in the Kontinental Hockey League when the lockout is over. "You have everything here and major companies are going to pay the top players here big money. And, especially for Russians players who can play at home in front of their own fans and families and (earn) even bigger money than they have in the National Hockey League," said Bryzgalov. "The KHL can't feed all the players, but for some big players - especially those with Russian passports - it might be a threat."

Anything else happen? No need to worry about Ottawa Senators center Jason Spezza's scoring drought in Switzerland. He had two goals and two assists Saturday for Rapperswil-Jona for his first points of the season.

DAY 20: OCT. 5

Did they talk? Yes, in Toronto.

What was the big news? That they met and managed to do it under the radar. It came a day after the opening two weeks of the season were canceled. What was discussed? "Meeting was regarding trying to move this process forward," said NHLPA spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon, adding the "sides will be in further contact this weekend (not in person)."

Anything else happen? New York Islanders center John Tavares (Bern, Switzerland) and Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn (Hamburg, Germany) made their European debuts. Neither had a point. Tavares was a minus-2 with two shots. Benn was a plus-1 with three shots.

DAY 19: OCT. 4

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? All games from Oct. 11-24 were canceled. That's 82 total games and one paycheck per player. On hold: the Los Angeles Kings' Stanley Cup banner raising (Oct. 12), the Minnesota Wild debuts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter and the New Jersey Devils' acknowledgment of their Eastern Conference title (both Oct. 13). The New York Rangers won't lose a home game because arena renovations had them on the road until Nov. 1.

Anything else happen? Yeah, but nothing close to as big as the economic impact of the canceled games.

DAY 18: OCT. 3

Did they talk? No. NHLPA executives are back in Toronto and NHL officials are in New York. If there are talks, they'd be in Toronto. No word on that, though. The NHL is looking for the union to make a new offer.

What was the big news? In addition to the usual run of players heading to Europe (Gabriel Landeskog, Andrei Markov, etc., on Wednesday), one player is coming back. Lev Praha of the Kontinental Hockey League released Jiri Hudler. The forward, who signed a four-year, $16 million free-agent deal with the Calgary Flames in the summer, has an abdominal/groin muscle injury that will keep him sidelined for a month. He had one assist in four games before he got hurt.

Anything else happen? If you miss hockey, one KHL game held enough highlights to satisfy you for a while. Nail Yakupov played his first game since his suspension for a transfer-card violation was lifted. The Edmonton Oilers' No. 1 overall pick scored twice for Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk in a 3-2 shootout win that also featured St. Louis Blues prospect Vladimir Tarasenko scoring while falling and New Jersey Devils star Ilya Kovalchuk getting his first goal of the KHL season. Yakupov also scored the decisive goal in the 15th shootout round.

DAY 17: OCT. 2

Did they talk? Yes, but for only two hours and not on the big topics.

What was the big news? There were a feeling of frustration among the parties afterward, not a good sign when we're getting to the point of potentially canceling some regular-season games. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the NHLPA "had nothing really to say." Union chief Donald Fehr, responding to a league stance that the NHLPA hasn't moved much off its initial offer, said the owners should "look in the mirror."

Anything else happen? Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara opened the day by signing with Prague of the Kontinental Hockey League. After talks fell apart, three other prominent players signed in Europe: Patrice Bergeron in Switzerland, Jamie Benn in Germany and Matt Duchene in Sweden.

DAY 16: OCT. 1

Did they talk? No, but they'll resume negotiations Tuesday in New York on the definition of hockey-related revenues. They aren't expected to discuss the critical issue of how to divide those revenues.

What was the big news? With all the negativity floating around about the inevitable cancellation of opening games and a potential lost season, there was a positive voice on Monday, and it was a great one. Wayne Gretzky, speaking at a conference in Toronto, said, "I believe in my heart, maybe because I'm such a big hockey fan, that they will be playing by Jan. 1." The difference between this year and the season-canceling 2004-05 lockout is that the earlier one was a fight over whether there should be a salary cap. With the cap firmly in place, "now, it's a question of working out the number that both sides think is fair."

Anything else happen? There was another European defection. Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Franson signed with Brynas in Sweden. There was debate about whether the deal was for an entire season or whether he'd return when the lockout ends. Franson is an unsigned restricted free agent who was a healthy scratch 25 times last season.

DAY 15: SEPT. 30

Did they talk? Yes, for the third day in a row, but they'll take a break on Monday.

What was the big news? The sides continued discussing the secondary issues as planned, though hockey-related revenues wasn't one of them. Monday will be a "homework" day for both sides, deputy commissioner Bill Daly told reporters, With the Oct. 11 opening date rapidly approaching, a deal will need to be reached soon to avoid any loss of games. Said Daly: "As the calendar ticks along and we get into October, we're obviously going to make those decisions."

What was the big news? Though core economic issues again weren't on the table, the negotiators discussed the composition of hockey-related revenues. That's important because you can't address how to divide up the pie unless you know the size of the pie. In initial league offers, HRR would have revised in owners' favor, so a 50-50 split would have given players 46% of what they made last year. "I am not sure if we have identified discrepancies," Daly told reporters. "I think the nature of what we were trying to do today was to create certainty on interpretations we've had over seven years of this CBA operation." There's no word on when core issues will be back on the agenda. The sides will meet again on Sunday.

What was the big news? The sides finally got together, both in large groups and a separate meeting between Donald Fehr and Gary Bettman. Though the sides didn't discuss the divisive economic issues, they reached agreement on more aggressive drug testing. That secondary issues will need to be addressed before a deal is reached, of course, but some compromise will also have to be found on how to divvy up revenue, Said the union's Steve Fehr. "There is no plan right now to address the core economic issues in the large groups tomorrow, but who knows?" Said the NHL's Bill Daly: "The calendar is ticking away."

Anything else happen? We had our first injury of a locked-out player in Europe. Rick Nash left Friday's Davos game in Switzerland with a shoulder injury. He'll be examined in a few days, his agent told TSN.

DAY 12: SEPT. 27

Did they talk? Talks will be Friday.

What was the big news? Depends on whether you like good news or bad news: Bad, but not surprising: The remaining 46 preseason games were canceled. September games were already canceled, Oct. 1 was right around the corner and the sides are far apart. Though players don't necessarily enjoy preseason games, they give players on the bubble another chance to make an impression. The good news: Talks, originally scheduled for just Friday, now will be all weekend. They'll be talking about secondary issues (pensions, etc.) rather than the divisive one on how to split revenues. The hope: Agreement on those issues could spur talks on the bigger issues.

Anything else happen? Evgeni Malkin made his home debut for Metallurg Magnitogorsk with a win and a goal and two assists. He has seven points in four games, good for third place on a team that has played eight games. Ilya Bryzgalov made his KHL debut with CSKA Moscow and lost 4-3 to Traktor Chelyabinsk.

DAY 11: SEPT. 26

Did they talk? No, talks will be Friday.

What was the big news? No. 1 pick Nail Yakupov's dream of playing in his Russian hometown hit a snag because of an improper transfer. Hockey Canada didn't sign off on his transfer, so the International Ice Hockey Federation couldn't approve it and he should not have played the two games that he did. He's suspended until the situation is settled and the Russian Hockey Federation is 5,000 Swiss francs poorer.

Anything else happen? Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson signed with Jokerit in Finland. The Swedish-born defenseman had 10 teams vying for him, according to the Ottawa Sun.

DAY 10: SEPT. 25

Did they talk? The No. 2 people met to set up a Friday negotiating session in New York to discuss non-core economic issues.

What was the big news? The fact that they're planning to talk again. Talking is always better than not talking. But the sides tried that during the 1994-95 lockout, and once the key sticking point, a hefty luxury tax, was reintroduced, talks fell apart. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told USA TODAY Sports' Kevin Allen that he hopes discussion of smaller issues "will be constructive to the overall process. Having said that, we are still waiting for the union to demonstrate some willingness to negotiate on an appropriate division of leaguewide revenues and the various system-related adjustments we have raised for consideration and discussion. Until we get some sense of that, it will continue to be an impossible task to reach a new agreement."

Anything else happen? More job fallout as the St. Louis Blues laid off about 20 people, according to the Post-Dispatch. Meanwhile, more locked-out players headed overseas, led by Pekka Rinne, Alexander Semin and Mikhail Grabovski.

DAY 9: SEPT. 24

Did they talk? Not about the collective bargaining agreement. The sides agreed on last year's revenue figures and as a result, players will get back nearly all of the money that they contributed to escrow. At 8.5% of their 2011-12, that would be the equivalent of one paycheck. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly told reporters in Toronto he hopes that talks resume this week.

What was the big news? Detroit Red Wings forward Dan Cleary had a foreboding interview with the Detroit Free Press when he said players believe the lockout could last a year or more.

Anything else happen? An owner was in the news for something other than the lockout. The Edmonton Oilers' Daryl Katz visited Seattle to talk with city officials about a possible relocation. A spokesman for his ownership group said the team has been listening to proposals from other cities "for some time." The Oilers and Edmonton are trying to work out an arena deal.

DAY 8: SEPT. 23

Did they talk? No, but they'll talk Monday about another issue.

What was the big news? In a matchup touted by the Kontinental Hockey League as Ovi vs. Kovi, Alex Ovechkin faced Ilya Kovalchuk in Russia. Kovalchuk, named SKA captain, was making his debut and had a power-play assist. Ovechkin scored his first goal of the season for Dynamo Moscow. St. Petersburg won 3-1, with former NHL player Maxim Afinogenov getting the winning goal.

Anything else happen? No real need to get excited about Monday's meeting. It's a standard annual meeting to hash out the final number on hockey-related revenues, which determines how much money players will get back from their escrow payments. Last year, a dispute over revenues delayed the payout of escrow refunds. This year's checks (about 8% of a player's 2011-12 pay) are expected to arrive around the time that players would miss their first paycheck because of the lockout. Of course, if the sides are sitting in the same room, maybe they could try to set up future negotiations. The exhibition season was supposed to start Sunday, but all September preseason games were canceled last week.

DAY 7: SEPT. 22

Did they talk? No.

What was the big news? The NHL fined the Detroit Red Wings a reported $250,000 for comments made by senior vice president Jim Devellano about the lockout. In an interview with Island Sports News, he referred to owners as the ranch and players and employees as cattle. He also indicated that there was an "unwritten rule" about teams not making offer sheets to other teams' restricted free agents.

Anything else happen? Rick Nash had a hat trick and Joe Thornton had four assists in their debuts with Davos (Switzerland). Both played there during the 2004-05 lockout.

DAY 6: SEPT. 21

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? Both sides appeared before the Alberta Labor Board as the NHLPA tried to get the lockout declared illegal in the province. A decision was expected the following week. An Oct. 15 date was set for a hearing in Quebec province.

Anything else happen? The Swedish Elite League's ban on locked-out NHL players was struck down. It had required a full-season commitment from any signees, but the country's antitrust authority said that it was up to individual teams, not the league, to decide.

DAY 5: SEPT. 20

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? The Kontinental Hockey League gave a thumbs up for NHL players to suit up. Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar each got an assist in his debut.

Anything else happen? Switzerland continued to be a haven for locked-out North American NHL players. Tyler Seguin signed with Biel, joining Joe Thornton, Rick Nash, Jason Spezza and Logan Couture in that country's top league.

DAY 4: SEPT. 19

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? The NHL canceled preseason games through Sept.. 30, 60 in all, including the popular Frozen Fury in Las Vegas. Also, the league confirmed that NHL employees were told they'd be cut to a four-day work week, starting Oct. 1, with a corresponding 20% cut in pay.

Anything else happen? The exodus to Europe continued with Alex Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk and Ilya Bryzgalov signing in Russia and Jason Spezza in Switzerland. Jaromir Jagr, owner and player for Kladno in the Czech Republic, had an assist in his debut.

DAY 3: SEPT. 18

Did they talk? The sides' No. 2 people touched base at dinner

What was the big news? The Florida Panthers announced layoffs, including their mascot.

Anything else happen? Locked-out Ilya Kovalchuk was named captain of the Kontinental Hockey League's SKA St. Petersurg and Stanley Cup champion Anze Kopitar joined his brother Gasper on Mora, a second-division team in Sweden.

DAY 2: SEPT. 17

Did they talk? They touched base.

What was the big news? NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr told USA TODAY Sports that he found the NHL's negotiating stance puzzling and criticized the league's first offer. "If your goal is make an agreement, it's pretty hard to get there when you start off that way," he said. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told USA TODAY Sports that the players' current 57% share "is too much, and it has probably always been too much."Anything else happen? The Ottawa Senators laid off "more than 10" employees and other full-timers were cut to a four-day work week.

DAY 1 : SEPT. 16

Did they talk? No

What was the big news? The NHL and NHLPA vied for the hearts and minds of fan. The NHL put out a statement on its website while the PA produced a YouTube video starring Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews. Speaking of NHL.com, all features on current players were expunged in favor of a reminiscence of the 1987 Canada Cup.

Anything else happen? Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar became teammates again, this time on the Russian team Metallurg Magnitogorsk.